We need something to do in London's Heathrow on a layover
Jul 13th, 2007, 07:30 AM
#1
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We need something to do in London's Heathrow on a layover
Hi there, We have an 8 hour layover at Heathrow; does anyone have any suggestions? I doubt we have sufficient time for a tour of the city; so we need suggestions...Please!~
Jul 13th, 2007, 07:43 AM
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Hmmm. I thought I just answered this, but it doesn't appear.
If you are traveling via BA you might just spend the full 8 hours looking for your luggage. LOL
Another more pleasant option is to take a taxi to Windsor for a few hours, visit the castle, stroll across into Eton, have lunch or dinner.
If you are traveling via BA you might just spend the full 8 hours looking for your luggage. LOL
Another more pleasant option is to take a taxi to Windsor for a few hours, visit the castle, stroll across into Eton, have lunch or dinner.
Jul 13th, 2007, 07:44 AM
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If your luggage is checked through and you have onward boarding passes in hand, all you have to do when you depart is to pass a security check and a cursory passport examination.
Depending on when you get through the arrival formalities, you might have enough time to take the Tube to town, look around a bit, and still return within your airline's legal time window.
To accomplish a drive-by view of a few sights, buy a One-day Travelcard for 6 Zones at the Heathrow Underground station. It's a pass valid on all public transport.
Print out this map before you leave home: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/cen_bus.pdf,
and pick up a copy of this map at the ticket window: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/centlond.pdf
Ride the Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith, cross the platform to the District Line (direction Upminster) to Westminster, which is on the river due east of Green Park, pop out onto Bridge Steeet, and you'll be right in the middle of it.
If time permits, ride one of the old Routemaster buses along the #15 Heritage route from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill. It will take you right through the heart of historic London.
Depending on when you get through the arrival formalities, you might have enough time to take the Tube to town, look around a bit, and still return within your airline's legal time window.
To accomplish a drive-by view of a few sights, buy a One-day Travelcard for 6 Zones at the Heathrow Underground station. It's a pass valid on all public transport.
Print out this map before you leave home: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/cen_bus.pdf,
and pick up a copy of this map at the ticket window: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/centlond.pdf
Ride the Piccadilly Line to Hammersmith, cross the platform to the District Line (direction Upminster) to Westminster, which is on the river due east of Green Park, pop out onto Bridge Steeet, and you'll be right in the middle of it.
If time permits, ride one of the old Routemaster buses along the #15 Heritage route from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill. It will take you right through the heart of historic London.
Jul 13th, 2007, 08:25 AM
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Actually, you'll have time for a short do-it-yourself walkng tour of a small section of central London. Buy a one-day zone 1-6 travelcard at Heathrow (£13.20 for peak travel starting before 09:30 on weekdays) or £6.70 (off-peak, after 09:30 on weekdays and anytime on weekends and holidays). Take the tube (Piccadilly line) to Hammersmith, walk a few steps to the other side of the platform and take the District line to Westminster. When you emerge, you'll be right across the river from Parliament and Big Ben. Walk to Trafalgar Square, exploring as time allows. Take the tube back to Heathrow.
Here is a link that will allow you to print a two-page map, a tube map and a central London bus map that shows the location of major tourist attractions: http://tinyurl.com/25p633.
Allow one hour for the tube ride each way.
Here is a link that will allow you to print a two-page map, a tube map and a central London bus map that shows the location of major tourist attractions: http://tinyurl.com/25p633.
Allow one hour for the tube ride each way.
Jul 13th, 2007, 09:21 AM
#8
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if you don't have the luggage and don't mind spending the money (it is almost 30 pounds return pp) Heathrow Express
takes you to Paddington in 15 minutes.
There are zillion buses from Paddington and several tube line. You can even walk to Hyde Park!
takes you to Paddington in 15 minutes.
There are zillion buses from Paddington and several tube line. You can even walk to Hyde Park!
Jul 13th, 2007, 09:36 AM
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Just because I told you how to make a quick trip to central London doesn't mean I don't like NeoPatrick's suggestion of going to Windsor & Eton. For one thing, going there means less time in transit and more time for sightseeing. A taxi ride takes about 15 minutes and a local bus will get you there in 30 minutes. Here's the URL for the official Windsor site: www.windsor.gov.uk.
Jul 13th, 2007, 11:46 AM
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If you decide not to do one of the tour options, and if you're flying into or out of Terminal 1, there's a great day spa there called Urban Retreat where you can get a massage, take a shower, and just generally relax. We used it recently after an overnight flight from Seattle before connecting to Istanbul with a 6 hour layover and it was heaven. They don't take advance reservations; you just show up and they can usually fit you in either right away or with a short wait (which you can spend in their lounge with massage chairs having tea).
Jul 14th, 2007, 05:40 PM
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Actually, the Heathrow Express isn't a bad option if your interest lies in the northwest corner of London (Hyde Park and the Diana memorial, for example). A "Visit London" ticket, valid between 13:00 and midnight, costs £17.
But once you get to Paddington Station where HX terminates, you still have another 15-25 minute trip to get to places like Westminster or Covent Garden. A direct Tube trip to these stations takes about the same amount of time, and costs much less.
But once you get to Paddington Station where HX terminates, you still have another 15-25 minute trip to get to places like Westminster or Covent Garden. A direct Tube trip to these stations takes about the same amount of time, and costs much less.
